Post by Logan on Apr 30, 2016 4:49:09 GMT -6
Prince's death puts spotlight on opioid epidemic in Minnesota
Suspected links between Prince’s death and prescription narcotics come amid an opioid abuse epidemic in Minnesota that worsened last year, according to a Star Tribune review of new state death certificate data.
State records show 336 deaths last year linked to excessive or abusive use of prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, or illicit opioids, such as heroin. That is six times higher than the opioid-related deaths in 2000, and an increase from 313 deaths in 2014.
Two-thirds of the deaths involved legal painkillers or the addiction treatment methadone, which can help wean drug abusers off opioids but is addictive itself.
Ongoing autopsy and toxicology testing will determine whether Prince’s April 21 death was related to opioids, but law enforcement sources have told the Star Tribune that they found opioids at Prince’s Paisley Park complex and that they are investigating how he received them. Sources also said Prince overdosed on an opioid medication six days earlier, forcing his plane to divert to Moline, Ill., where he received an emergency dose of Narcan to counteract the drug.
Read more: www.startribune.com/prince-s-death-a-reminder-of-state-opioid-problem/377649911/
Suspected links between Prince’s death and prescription narcotics come amid an opioid abuse epidemic in Minnesota that worsened last year, according to a Star Tribune review of new state death certificate data.
State records show 336 deaths last year linked to excessive or abusive use of prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, or illicit opioids, such as heroin. That is six times higher than the opioid-related deaths in 2000, and an increase from 313 deaths in 2014.
Two-thirds of the deaths involved legal painkillers or the addiction treatment methadone, which can help wean drug abusers off opioids but is addictive itself.
Ongoing autopsy and toxicology testing will determine whether Prince’s April 21 death was related to opioids, but law enforcement sources have told the Star Tribune that they found opioids at Prince’s Paisley Park complex and that they are investigating how he received them. Sources also said Prince overdosed on an opioid medication six days earlier, forcing his plane to divert to Moline, Ill., where he received an emergency dose of Narcan to counteract the drug.
Read more: www.startribune.com/prince-s-death-a-reminder-of-state-opioid-problem/377649911/